Companion Planting

Companion planting is nothing more than combining plants that help each other. The benefits each plant gives to the other make for a better harvest, healthier plants and less undesirable critters in your garden. Plus, the flowers make your garden look pretty and the herbs can be used for cooking or making flavored vinegars or oils.

Herbs and other aromatic plants (ones that give off a strong oder) such as tomatoes, onions, chives and marigolds help ward off some types of insects. Colors such as orange help to repel some flying insects. Melon or cucumber vines provide protection to the roots of corn and keep the racoons away from your corn crop. At the same time, the corn provides a wind brake and some shade for the vines below. Growing onions, chives or garlic with the leafy veggies that rabbits like will discourage them from nibbling on those tasty tidbits. Plant peas or beans on the east side of lettuce or spinach. This will allow the lettuce or spinach to get plenty of sun, but also gives them protection from the hot afternoon son that can destroy your crop. Rue is said to repel cats, while pot marigolds are said to keep dogs away.

Instead of planting long rows of the same vegetable, plant small areas in several places. Then plant companions next to them. This can help fool the bugs.

Below is a chart showing some vegetable and herb companions.

Plants Good Bad Special
Asparagus Tomato Parsley none listed none listed
Beans, Bush Beets Cabbage Carrots Celery Corn Cukes Eggplant Lettuce Peas Radish Potato Strawberry Onions Savory Tansy
Beans, Pole Carrots Corn Cukes Eggplant Lettuce Peas Radish Beets Onions Savory Tansy
Beets Bush-Beans Cabbage Kohlrabi Onion none listed none listed
Broccoli Cabbage Cauliflower Bush-Beans Beets Celery Onion Tomato Strawberry All strong herbs
Carrots Beans Chives Lettuce Onions Peas Radish Tomato none listed Sage no dill
Celery Beans Cabbage Onions Spinach Tomato none listed none listed
Corn Beans Cukes Melon Peas Potato Pumpkin Squash Tomato none listed
Cucumbers Beans Cabbage Celery Corn Lettuce Onion Peas Potato Radish none listed No strong herbs
Eggplant Beans Spinach None listed none listed
Lettuce Beans Cabbage Cukes Carrots Onion Radish Strawberry none listed None listed
Marigolds Beans Cabbage Cukes Strawberry Tomato none listed none listed
Melons Corn Radish none listed none listed
Nasturtium Cabbage Cukes Melons Radish Squash Tomato none listed none listed
Onion Beets Cabbage Carrots Celery Cucumbers Lettuce Pepper Squash Strawberry Tomato Beans Peas Savory
Parsley Tomato none listed none listed
Peas Beans Carrots Corn Cukes Radish Turnips Onions Turnips
Peppers Onions none listed none listed
Radish Beans Carrots Cukes Lettuce Melons Peas Nasturtiums Squash none listed No Hyssop
Sage Beets Cabbage Carrots Cukes none listed
Spinach Celery Eggplant Strawberry none listed Cauliflower
Squash Corn Onion Radish none listed none listed
Strawberry Beans Lettuce Onion Spinach Cabbage none listed
Tomato Cabbage Carrots Celery Cukes Marigolds Onion Parsley Corn Mint no fennel
Roses Chives Garlic Marigolds Onions none listed none listed
Fruit Trees Chives Garlic Nasturtiums none listed none listed
Grapes Mustard Greens none listed none listed
Pumpkins Beans Cabbage Corn Horseradish Marigolds Peas none listed none listed
Aspargus Tomato Parlsey none listed none listed
Potatoes Beans Cabbage Corn Horseradish Marigolds Peas none listed none listed

Herb Companions

Basil -- Companion to tomatoes, dislikes rue. Repels flies and mosquitoes.
Borage -- Companion to tomatoes, squash, straberries; deters tomato worms.
Caraway -- Plant here and there; loosens soil.
Catnip -- Plant in borders; deters flea beetle.
Camomile -- Campanion to cabbages and onions.
Chervil -- Campanion to radishes.
Chives -- Campanion to carrots.
Dead Nettle -- Companion to potatoes; deters potato bugs.
Dill -- Companion to cabbage; dislikes carrots.
Fennel -- Most plants dislike it; plant away from gardens.
Flax -- Companion to carrots, potatoes; deters potato bugs.
Garlic -- Plant near roses and rasberries; deters Japanese beetles.
Horseradish -- Plant at corners of potato patch; deters potatoe bugs.
Henbit -- General insect repellent.
Hyssop -- Companion to cabbage and grapes; deters cabbage moth. Dislikes radishes.
Marigolds -- Plant throughout garden; it discourages Mexican bean beetles, nematodes, and other insects. The workhorse of companion plants.
Mint *- Companion to cabbage and tomatoes; deters white cabbage moth.
Mole Plant -- Deters moles and mice if planted around garden.
Nasturtium -- Companion to radishes, caggabe and cucumbers; plant under fruit trees. Deters aphids, squash bugs, striped pumpkin beetles.
Petunia -- Companion to beans.
Pot Marigold -- Companions to tomatoes, but plant elsewhere, too. Deters tomatoe worms, asparagus beetles and other pests.
Rosemary -- Companion to cabbage, beans, carrots, and sage; deters cabbage moth, bean beetles, and carrot fly.
Rue -- Companion to roses and rasberries; deters Japanese beetles. Dislikes Basil.
Sage -- Plant with rosemary, cabbage, and carrots. Dislikes cucumbers. Deters cabbage moth, carrot fly.
Southernwood -- Companion to cabbage; deters cabbage moth.
Sowthistle -- In moderate amounts, this weed can help tomatoes, onions, and corn.
Tansy -- Plant under fruit trees; companion to roses and rasberries. Deters flying insects Japanese beetles, striped cucumber beetles, squash bugs, and ants.
Thyme -- Companion to cabbage; deters cabbage worms.
Wormwood -- As a border, it keeps animals from the garden.
Yarow -- Plant along borders, paths, and near aromatic herps; enhances production of essential oils.

*Mint is a very invasive plant. If using it in your garden, plant it in large containers, then bury the containers up to the rim in the garden. This will keep it in one spot, otherwise it will spread everywhere.

Another thing that is supposed to help keep bugs out of the garden is to make a tea from different items. Use the leaves of plants that aren't eaten by any bugs. Put the leaves in the blender with water. Place in a container and let steep overnight. Strain the liquid, put it in a sprayer and spray your plants. Be sure to get the underside of the leaves.

Do the same thing with bugs. Collect the offensive bugs, blend in the blender with water and let sit overnight. Strain and spray on plants. If you are squimish about using your kitchen blender to chop up the bugs and leaves you might use an old blender just for this purpose. Good excuse for buying a new blender for the kitchen.

There are other companions that I have not listed. Experiment with different combinations and see what works for you.

Horticulture Soulutions Series
Eco-Gardening
Garden Allies
Gardening Plot

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